Türk Kızılay Mobilized All Its Teams To Support The Earthquake Victims

Türk Kızılay (Turkish Red Crescent), which took action immediately after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake, the epicenter of which was in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş province, coordinated its staff and volunteers. In addition, it directed mobile kitchen and catering vehicles to the region, dispatched tents and blankets to earthquake zones, and started to deliver blood against urgent needs.
 
While Türkiye is trying to overcome the first shock of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş province in the morning, Türk Kızılay has switched to working 24/7 to deliver aid. Setting up a crisis desk in the Disaster Operation Center for the earthquake that was felt strongly in many cities, especially in Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Hatay, Adana, Osmaniye, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Adıyaman, Şanlıurfa and Kilis, Türk Kızılay is planning for the tasks that may come from the coordination center established in Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency. Under the coordination of the Türk Kızılay Disaster Operation Center, expert teams from Adana Disaster Response Center, Ankara Disaster Response Center, Düzce Disaster Response Center, İzmir Disaster Response Center, Elazig Disaster Response Center, Erzurum Disaster Response Center, Kırklareli Disaster Response Center, Muş Disaster Response Center and Kızılay Branches moved to the area.
 
Heads of Türk Kızılay Are on The Earthquake Zones
 
After the great earthquake, the President of Türk Kızılay Dr. Kerem Kınık, who set out for Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş, called on the citizens and warned them not to enter the damaged houses. He repeated his call to be organized for the transportation of search and rescue and medical teams. Türk Kızılay Director General Dr. Ibrahim Altan also took action towards the region to coordinate the works in Kahramanmaraş on the spot.
 
“We Invite Our Citizens To Donate Blood”
 
Stating that additional blood and blood products were sent to the hospitals for the wounded, the President of Türk Kızılay Dr. Kerem Kınık said, “We have National Blood Stocks for the first stage shipment in our Regional Blood Banks. However, we invite our citizens to donate blood throughout Türkiye during the day for additional needs that may occur in the following days. Highlighting that all the mechanisms of the state were engaged in disaster mobilization, Dr. Kınık noted, “ Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency declared an S4 level disaster. We are mobilizing all our shelter, food, nutrition and blood services capacity to the region. All our local branches and neighboring branches are in the field to support search and rescue efforts. Our soup kitchens are open. Our mobile trucks are transferred to the field. Our tents are being loaded.
 
More than 240 Staff and Hundreds of Volunteers Are on the Field
 
Türk Kızılay teams moved to the disaster area from the first moment. Immediately after the earthquake, the teams were transferred to the region. Türk Kızılay mobilized all its resources to support the citizens who were affected by the earthquake and spent the night outside. More than 240 professional employees and hundreds of volunteers support the work in the region.
 
Mobile Kitchen and Catering Vehicles at the Service of Earthquake Victims
 
Türk Kızılay directed its 75 catering vehicles and 5 mobile kitchen trucks to provide nutrition services to the victims in the provinces affected by the earthquake. In addition, it continues to distribute hot meals, ready-to-eat packages, soup, hot/cold beverages and water. Making great efforts to prevent the citizens from being affected by the cold, Türk Kızılay staff also continues the shipment of blankets, tents and beds.